The Presidency on Thursday dismissed as false a viral report alleging that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is planning constitutional amendments to rename Nigeria as the “United States of Nigeria” and abolish Sharia law in the North.
In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency described the report as fake and urged Nigerians to disregard it.
The statement said the publication, which allegedly relied on unnamed sources, was designed to create disaffection, stir up a political crisis, and heat the polity ahead of the general elections.
It also denied claims that the President planned to transmit a bill tagged “Project True Federation” to the National Assembly before the next general election.
“President Tinubu has no plan whatsoever to send any bill code-named Project True Federation to the National Assembly by December 15, a few weeks before the general election,” the statement read.
The Presidency maintained that constitutional amendment procedures are clearly spelt out in law and cannot be carried out arbitrarily.
“Under our laws, constitutional changes and amendments are serious business that require legislative scrutiny, oversight and serious debate,” Onanuga said.
He added: “The process of amending the constitution is not at the President’s or the National Assembly’s whim. It is a task that requires a 2/3 majority in both chambers of the National Assembly and the concurrence of 24 State Houses of Assembly.”
The statement noted that President Tinubu remained focused on economic reforms and governance rather than political distractions.
“President Tinubu is focused on the arduous task of entrenching and deepening the economic reforms his administration has embarked upon. He is focused on delivering more tangible dividends to Nigerians,” it stated.
The Presidency warned Nigerians against spreading false and divisive information as political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general election.
“Nigerians should be wary of consuming fake and divisive reports, which will proliferate as the nation begins political campaigns,” the statement added.